Shilabalikas of Belur

The below picture depicts three such Shilabalika structures on the outer wall of Chennakeshava temple, Belur.

The salabhanjika concept stems from ancient symbolism linking a chaste maiden with the sala tree or the asoka tree through the ritual called dohada, or the fertilisation of plants through contact with a young woman. The symbolism changed over the course of time and the salabhanjika became figures used as ornamental carvings, usually located in the area where worshipers engage in circumambulation, near the garbhagriha of many Hindu temples.
The salabhanjika’s female features, like breasts and hips, are often exaggerated. Frequently these sculpted figures display complex hairdos and an abundance of jewelry.

The Shilabalikas shown in the picture below are located inside the temple. These sculptures adorn the edges of a square elevated ceiling before the sanctum area.